A Vietnamese American has filed a lawsuit against Sheraton Saigon Hotel in Ho Chi Minh City, asking for over US$55.5 million that he won gambling, VnExpress reported Tuesday.

According to the petition of 60-year-old Ly Sam, on October 25, 2009, he played the Landlord Game on a machine at the hotel's Palazzo Club and was informed by the machine that he had won over $55.5 million.

Sam claims that he asked the club's manager to sign a minute recording the result, but the manager refused to do so, and promised to pay the money in three days, the news website reported.

The man then recorded the result on the machine and asked several witnesses to sign the minute, instead.

However, as the club did not pay him, Sam sent a letter to the general director of the Dai Duong Joint-venture, the hotel's investor, nearly a month later, asking for payment.

Ewarton Consultancy Co., Ltd., a member of Dai Duong, then said they recognized Sam's reward, but wouldn't pay him, because the result was caused by some problems with the machine.

This prompted Sam to sue the company.

Mai Xuan Binh, judge of the People's Court of District 1, told VnExpress that they planned to open the trial before Tet (Lunar New Year falling on February 3 this year), but due to the lack of some evidence, further investigations were needed.

"This is a lawsuit with the biggest ever claim in Vietnam. We'll open the trial as soon as possible," he said.